Whenever I see a game with the Team 17 branding I always immediately feel a sense of intrigue. If they aren’t developing their own titles, they appear to be publishing solid indie entries across the board. Ship Of Fools is the latest integration into the Team 17 catalogue and is developed by Fika Productions. Here you’ll play as the fools who are the only people crazy enough to brave the sea. Essentially it is a game where you’ll be fighting off waves of enemies and protecting your ship whilst with your teammate. With frantic and chaotic gameplay with plenty of decisions to be made on each outing you take; it echoes the values of many other co-op titles Team 17 have pushed out there in the past. 

Introduction

Ship Of Fools is predominantly built to be enjoyed as a group but it is possible to jump in solo and acquire the help of AI also. You’ll be tasked with traversing across mysterious waters where all sorts of mishaps and surprises take place, but it is dangerous. With each mission across the pond, it is the players’ responsibility to ensure that the ship makes it to the end and doesn’t sustain too much damage. The game caters for two players, and you can join forces either locally on the same console or online. Sadly, you don’t appear to be able to play with other random players, but this isn’t really needed. I managed to convince a friend to invest in the game and honestly, we had an absolute blast smashing through everything the game had to offer.

Gameplay

At the start of each run, you are presented with a map littered with hexagons. You must choose your path to the end, but you must be mindful of which way you go. Each hexagon has a symbol attached to it to represent what you could expect to find within that zone. It could be an area where you’ll unlock a chest of loot or some much-needed wood to repair your ship if it takes damage. You will also have some indication of whether there are tough enemies on the horizon so that you can kit yourself up in preparation for maximum onslaught.

Being On Board

Prior preparation prevents piss-poor performance. This is a saying that has always stuck with me and rings true during your defensive strategies on board. You’ll need to plan carefully and also be ready to perform actions at the drop of a hat. Enemies can strike from any angle, and you’ll be wanting to keep them at over an arm’s length, let them approach and get too close to the ship then it could be soon game over. On deck, you’ll need to replenish cannons with ammunition and even detach and move them to other portions of the ship. This was a little more of a challenge playing alone as you had to keep a watchful eye on everything, but with a human player, you can prepare better.

Small critters can infiltrate your ship and land on deck, and you’ll want to dispatch these as quickly as possible as they will start chewing away at your ship. With a tap of the X button, you can bash them into oblivion, you can also use this action if enemies get close to your boat. Whilst I thought operating the cannons was a little fiddly at first, it was probably just my poor coordination due to the high intensity of the gameplay. You can detach the cannons and carry them to the opposite side of the ship to be re-attached. Timing this and ensuring ammo is always available is key, practice makes perfect, and you’ll soon become accustomed to the controls.

Taking Damage & Repairs

Sustaining damage to your ship is a process that you want to nip in the bud as soon as possible. At times it will be hard to prevent a small amount of it from occurring and there are opportunities to make repairs on your journey. Too much bombardment can result in the end of the run though, if your ship can’t handle anymore you will sink and that will be game over for that playthrough. All is not lost though since you will gain experience and loot even if you succumb to getting wet.

Keep an eye on the hexagons and stock up on wood for quick repairs, you can also collect currency and disembark at certain sections of the run to spend dollars in the shop. Here you’ll be able to stock up on shields and other essentials if you can afford them. You may want to invest in harpoons which give you the ability to easily pluck additional loot from the ocean.

Different Ammo Types & Having Your Wits About You

As you progress through the game, you will find alternative options in your ammunition to make your life a little easier potentially. Armour-piercing and rapid-fire rounds may cut through the toughest of enemies on your runs. But the more you play, the more you’ll have a feel for which action works for each section you pass through. I especially enjoyed learning all the aspects of the game and the gameplay loop not just being the same projectiles and powers every single time.

There will also be obstacles to watch out for such as powerful lasers that beam right across your deck. These can hamper your mobility if you consistently hit them as they will stun you, leaving you unable to defend for a short period. So yes, it gets absolutely bonkers at times with a lot on your plate to think about, but it is exhilarating at the same time and enjoyable when you pull through the tough spots.

Ship Upgrades

Alongside the different ammunition options, you’ll also have moments when you can upgrade your ship. There is some tough decision-making here as you’ll only be able to take on a limited amount of extra perks and you may want to sacrifice one to make way for another. These provide elements such as extra health, money and power but there are only three slots on board so choose wisely.

Graphics & Audio

Visually Ship Of Fools is superb with crisp cartoon-style graphics and maximum polish. It really gives you a feel of being in a premium-quality comic book-esque experience. With how pleasing the aesthetics were, I really wanted to put the combat scenarios into action to see how the game handled. It was a joy to play with its solid control mechanics and on-screen the hordes took magnificently with zero frame drops and a smooth enjoyable presentation. The art design team deserves huge applause for their efforts and it really does showcase some of the best visuals in an indie this year. Audio design is equally as great with sound effects and music blending in well with all the amazing artwork.

In Conclusion

I had my reservations before diving into Ship Of Fools, simply because part of me thought it was going to be a complex rogue-lite. I’m someone who likes a little complexity without being overbearing and this game has every element absolutely nailed. The balance between being able to play as a solo gamer or part of a co-op team is well executed. Often a lot of co-op-based titles fall short when it comes to playing alone, but here it is as deep and rich as playing amongst friends. 

Ship Of Fools easily nestles itself as one of my favourite indie games of 2022. Its short yet spontaneous runs of addictive gameplay keep you coming back for more. Being able to choose different paths and adopt different strategies makes a great case for longevity and replayability. If you’re looking for something that has a vibe of games such as Overcooked or Moving Out, then I suggest you invest immediately. You honestly won’t regret the purchase.